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The Mounds View District is planning a series of enhancements to its K-12 science, technology, pre-engineering and math (STEM) program to begin in 2006-07. The initiatives will support staff in providing high quality applied experiences for students in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math.
The District plans to use a gift of $100,000 from its corporate partner Medtronic, a global leader in medical technology to implement one component of these improvements – a national pre-engineering program for middle and high school students called Project Lead the Way.
“Our school district is home to many engineers who work for nearby scientific leaders like Medtronic,” says Superintendent Jan Witthuhn. “It makes sense for us to partner with them to give our students a more relevant and reality-based pre-engineering education. Medtronic’s generous gift helps make this possible.”
Across the country and throughout Minnesota, an increasing number of schools are implementing Project Lead the Way as a component of their STEM curriculum. Their goal is to increase the number, quality and diversity of students pursing careers as engineers.
In Mounds View, Project Lead the Way will enhance a number of the District’s pre-existing courses in science, technology, engineering and math. Next year, middle and high school students can choose from several courses that will incorporate key components of Project Lead the Way’s program. Students will have opportunities to explore science and math principles through the use of real-world technology and apply key scientific concepts through “hands on” project-based experiments.
“The health and well-being of Minnesota and the global community will greatly depend on tomorrow’s scientific innovators,” says Penny Hunt, vice president, Medtronic Community Affairs and Foundation. “We think that can start right here at home by inspiring and training a new generation of engineers. We hope our gift will help Mounds View Public Schools develop programs that will really make a difference.”
The $100,000 donation was given by Medtronic’s Cardiac Rhythm Management business, which last fall broke ground on its new headquarters in Mounds View. In addition, the Medtronic Foundation has provided more than $220,000 to Mounds View Public Schools over the past 15 years, primarily to enhance science, math and technology programs.
Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology—alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world.
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